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Burnley players snubbed Preston's Milutin Osmajic amid a racism controversy involving Hannibal Mejbri, sparking tensions before their FA Cup match.
Racism has been a subject of heated debate in English football and the latest chapter unfolded during Preston North End’s FA Cup fifth-round tie against Burnley.
The match at Deepdale was not just about progressing in the competition but was clouded by controversy surrounding an alleged racist incident between the two clubs earlier in the month.
The tensions were evident before kickoff when Burnley players refused to shake hands with Preston striker Milutin Osmajic, who was accused of racially abusing Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri during their Championship encounter on February 15.
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Osmajic has "strongly refuted" the allegations, and the Football Association (FA) is currently investigating the matter.
“As I said earlier in the week in the press conference, fundamentally I need to protect Hannibal and make sure of the right decision,” Burnley manager Scott Parker explained before the match as per BBC.
“It has been a tough decision, and we come here a bit weakened today because Hannibal is a vitally important member of this squad, and I felt it was the best decision for Hannibal.”
Despite being fully fit, Mejbri was left out of Burnley’s matchday squad, a move Parker insisted was made to shield the young Tunisia international from undue pressure.
“I wouldn’t want to put him in a situation here, so we have made the decision for the best for Hannibal. That is why he is not in the matchday squad,” he added.
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Meanwhile, Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom had no such concerns about selecting Osmajic. Asked whether he was approaching the situation with the mindset of "innocent until proven guilty," Heckingbottom was firm in his stance. “Yes, exactly—100%,” he responded.
The pre-match formalities reflected the tension between the two sides. As the Preston players lined up for the traditional handshake, Burnley’s squad pointedly ignored Osmajic, who was the last in his team’s row.
The Montenegro international initially extended his hand to a few players before realizing none were reciprocating, after which he simply walked down the line without further attempts at engagement.
If Osmajic was affected by the snub, he did not show it on the pitch. The striker played a crucial role in the game, scoring in the first half to put Preston 2-0 ahead. His celebration, however, was provocative—he cupped his hands around his ears, appearing to taunt Burnley’s away supporters before being mobbed by his teammates.
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The FA’s investigation into the alleged racist remark remains ongoing, and if Osmajic is found guilty, he could face a minimum six-game ban under the governing body’s disciplinary rules.
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